Is Every Fight Worth It?
Is it wise for Democrat pundits to confront and fight all ’smear’ (alleged) attacks?
I questioned it after reading this post: Malkin and Fox: Flip-Flopping Racism In Action. You should watch the video embed. You’ll see a graphic “Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking On Obamas Baby’s Mamma”.
Ouch! Not a smart ‘tagline’. This was an editorial shock tactic. That worked. It got Democratic pundits pissed, and instead of talking about it, they are yelling! And making themselves look like hypocrites.
They are pissed by the generalities made toward Michelle Obama. So their answer is to point ther finger at any Republican, and accuse them of racism or sexism. It maybe called for, but how is it intelligent? Especially when you want the FIRST Black President to win the White House and you don’t want it to be about race?
How can it not be about race when the message is ‘muddied’ by attacking every statement, made by the opposition, and twisting it into a racial slur?
This is a message to the Obama and McCain Campaigns: If you don’t want it to be about race, don’t make it about race. Both canidates have been chosen. Both canidates deserve to be President. Tell me why, when, and how you are going to make my families life better. I can shut out the rest if you stay on message.
Update: Discussed my view point on News Gang Live 6.13.08. News Gang Live by the way is a great ‘political’ podcast heavily wieghted in favor for Obama and Democrats. I love listening because I want to hear both sides of the argument. Then I can draw my own conclusions to further my aggenda. That is also why I enjoy reading Karoli’s and Erin’s blog.
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I agree with you. It should be about issues.
So too, should Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s campaigns been about issues, but it ended up being about sexism after Hillary lost. Just look at how it was framed.
If we want it to be about issues, the only option is to push back on broadcast outlets’ insistence at sensationalizing and framing this in ‘isms’. And the only way to do THAT is to push back.
John Kerry never in a million years thought his service to our country could be smeared and get any traction. But it did, mostly because he didn’t step up and push back.
not this time.
I’m confused as to why you think anyone yelling about this is a hypocrite? The Obama campaign has gone to great lengths to make sure this is not about race and have never used it as a ‘victim’ or issue in the campaign.
But we, as citizens watching this, are certainly not going to just fold when it’s used.
The Clinton campaign trotted out sexism as in issue late as they were dying, the Obama campaign has yet to use race or sexism.
It’s my duty to use my voice when I see an injustice. A racist slur or sexist jab won’t be overlooked by ME and shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone else.
However I do agree that this is an issue focused election and should remain one, but that doesn’t mean bigots get a pass.
Pundits (not the Obama campaign) are hypocrites because they begin and end their arguments with labels like:
racist
sexist
bigot
ass-hat
So they discredit their argument with name calling. The same thing that set them off.
By ignoring it, you are not giving the idiotic statements validity. Which in turn will not give them traction or coverage by the media.